MPs condemn Mumias police brutality

Leaders from across the political divide have condemned police brutality witnessed in Mumias on Thursday, November 24 during an operation to search for guns stolen from Booker Police Station when armed assailants attacked an officer manning the station.

Homa Bay Member of Parliament, Peter Kaluma, nominated Senator, Martha Wangari, and Kibra MP, Ken Okoth, have accused police of animosity saying that torturing innocent people will not serve the purpose.

They argued that police have no right to harass or torture anyone in the name of carrying out an operation.

They are now calling on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take action against the police officers accused of brutality arguing that the people who suffer most are women and children.

MP Okoth also says that he will table in the National Assembly the Anti-Torture Bill that will stop police brutality adding that gender violence by police officers should not be tolerated at all.

However, Kiharu MP, Irungu Kangata, has defended the police saying that cases of assaults on police stations have been on the rise and that there is a need to stem them by all means.

He argues that police are very prone to attacks by bandits, armed assailants, terrorists, etc and called on the government to get rid of IPOA saying that it ‘brutalises’ police instead of making their work easier and favourable.

The legislators were speaking to Radio Citizen on Friday, November 25.